Jon Gary Williams

There are several differing ideas regarding the origin of the cross symbol so often seen in the world of Christendom, and yet, there is no support for any of them.

With this in mind, and attempting to find an answer, I turned attention to the origin of the word "cross" in the English New Testament, thinking this might give me a lead. However, I discovered that not much specific information on this has been published, which lead me into searching through a number of sources including contacting several Greek professors.

I had assumed that somewhere along the way the word "cross" had been introduced into one of the earlier English translations. Yet, in going back and looking over a number of them, including the Wycliff and Tyndale, I found that they all contained the word "cross." To my surprise the insertion of this word did not originate with any English translation. So, when did this word begin to be used?

This is where it gets interesting and informative, for it takes us back to some of the Greek manuscripts themselves. It involves the rearranging of the Greek word stauros making it appear like an upright cross symbol. One professor expressed this way:

"The use of the English word 'cross' to translate the Greek word σταύρος is older than the English Bible itself. Not only did the Greek writers intend to describe an implement of death rather than just an 'upright stake,' but in the Greek manuscript tradition this word was sometimes decorated (technically called a 'ligature') in such a way to indicate a unique usage. The ligature made for a natural way to cause the word to not only stand out but actually look like a cross."

The way this was done was to, first, omit the au from stauros. This brought the letters t and r together. Then, the r (looking like a p) was superimposed on the t so that there appeared to be a head on the t suggesting a body on an upright pale. (To show that this was done, a straight line [-----] was placed above the word.) The purpose of this may have been well intentioned, suggesting an actual cross symbol, but was erroneous. Eventually, the word "cross" was supplied which was then carried over into various translations, including the English. See below an example.